Protest against new pilotage regulations disrupts cargo shipping and fuel distribution operations at ports across Argentina.
On Monday, workers at Argentine ports began an indefinite strike in protest against a decree issued by far-right President Javier Milei that affects the movement of export cargo vessels at the country’s ports.
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Currently, about 40 ships are anchored awaiting permission to enter and load cargo at the ports of Buenos Aires (Rio de la Plata) and Bahia Blanca (Atlantic), as well as at several terminals in Rosario and surrounding areas (Parana River), where one of the world’s largest agricultural export hubs is located.
The vessels cannot enter the ports because of a protest by harbor pilots, captains with expertise in specific ports and waterways who board ships to guide the vessel’s captain through those difficult areas.
The harbor pilots decided to suspend their services in opposition to a decree through which Milei imposed a new pilotage system purportedly to “reduce costs and improve the competitiveness” of foreign trade.
The new system, promoted by Deregulation and State Transformation Minister Federico Sturzenegger, allows foreign captains and professionals to provide pilotage services and establishes maximum rates.
Argentina sees a 24-hour national education strike. Many teachers and public employees marched in Buenos Aires against Milei’s education budget cuts, demanding salary talks resume and education funding be restored. pic.twitter.com/RH5maXHLNr
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The harbor pilots are independent professionals who are organized but not under a labor union structure, preventing the Argentine government from ordering mandatory conciliation in the dispute.
The professionals say the new regulations “condition and oppress” the exercise of their duties and are demanding that the decree be repealed.
The protest is affecting the operations of companies in the fuel distribution sector that use maritime transportation. Sources from the Argentine Energy Chamber confirmed that the port operations of its member companies, as well as those of the rest of the industry that require harbor pilot services, “are temporarily interrupted due to the unavailability of harbor pilots.”
Specifically, fuel loading has been halted at the port terminals of Campana, Dock Sud, Arroyo Seco, Bahia Blanca, San Lorenzo and Sandra Cruz. The measure also affects the port of Caleta Cordova, in the southern province of Chubut, which plays a key role in transporting crude oil to the country’s refineries.
teleSUR/ JF
Source: EFE
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